How Long Do Solicitors Keep Conveyancing Documents ?

[Canary42]

Using the facility described in another thread I today  purchased my site plan from the Land Registry. Bang - a whole can of worms.

It is very different from the land I now occupy (and was occupied by vendor on my purchase date).

I had paper deeds at my purchase but they had to go to the Building Society who had lost them I discovered when I completed my mortgage payments.  They (the BSoc) have now disappeared (taken over I believe).

The solicitor who did my conveyancing (in 1988) has also long gone.

What can I now do to correct the LR without any documentary evidence to support my correction.

The situation is possibly further complicated as I believe the council compulsorily purchased a corner of my property from the prevous owners (who had lived here since it was built) to improve a road junction.

I said it was a can of worms, but now I'm considering selling I don't know what to do.

[ladybirder]

What a nightmare Canary.  Have you asked the solicitors who will be acting for you in the sale for their opinion?

[Barmaid]

Generally, solicitors only kept files for 7 years.  It may be worth contacting the Law Society Records Dept to see if your former solicitors were taken over and by whom or if the LS has any records.

 

[Buenchico]

It might be worth downloading the title plan(s) for the property/ies which neighbour/s your own one.  If such a title plan shows the correct boundaries between the two properties, you'll then have some evidence to support your claim that the information on your own title plan is out of date.

[Canary42]

Thank you for your reponses. I haven't got as far as appointing a solicitor for a sale, it's still only an intention which I haven't initiated yet.  I haven't started looking for my next residence yet as I haven't decided on retirement flat or sheltered accommodation. My action today was purely curiosity, sparked off by another thread outlining what the LR offered so I immediately sent  for the plan. Now I'm panicking a bit.

I think my best way forward will be to contact the solicitors who drew up my will in 2014 and find out if they can help. Ironically, they occupy the same premises as my original conveyancer so there may be a hope there or they may know where my old solicitor went (clutching at straws). I can see big costs looming.

But probably better I've found out now rather than halfway through a sale.

[Canary42]

Thanks Chris for your reply which I've just read. Unfortunately being on a corner two borders are on public roads (and one of those is where I see an error) and the third side backs on to a shared driveway to 2 bungalows who presumably have some sort of joint ownership. The fourth side is not in contention and looks OK. I told you it was a can of worms.

[The Builder]

I don't know if this is at all relevant, Canary, but here goes...

Several years ago I bought a bungalow which was also a corner plot. One boundary is a farm track. Back in the 60s when the development took place, they moved the farm track over to squeeze in another property (mine.)

No one told The Land Registry. My Title Plan showed the track running through my sitting room.

My solicitor approached The LR and brought it to their attention. They sent someone out for a visual inspection. They saw that the registered plan was a nonsense and corrected it.

A simple triumph of common sense. These things can be resolved.